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The Relationship between Searches for COVID-19 Vaccines and Dynamics of Vaccinated People in Poland: An Infodemiological Study

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Kłak

    (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Konrad Furmańczyk

    (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
    Institute of Information Technology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Paulina Maria Nowicka

    (Department of Environmental Hazards Prevention, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Mańczak

    (Department of Gerontology, Public Health and Didactics, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartanska 1 Street, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Barańska

    (Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with e-Health Lab, Medical University of Lublin, K. Jaczewskiego 5 Street, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Urszula Religioni

    (Collegium of Business Administration, Warsaw School of Economics, 02-513 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Anna Siekierska

    (Department of Public Health, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9 Street, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Martyna Ambroziak

    (Graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Magdalena Chłopek

    (Graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61 Street, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

Background: Google Trends has turned out to be an appropriate tool for evaluating correlations and prognostic modelling regarding infectious diseases. The possibility of selecting a vaccine against COVID-19 has increased social interest in particular vaccines. The objective of this study was to show dependencies between the frequency of searches for COVID-19 vaccinations and the number of vaccinated people in Poland, along with epidemiological data. Methods: Data were collected regarding Google searches for COVID-19 vaccines, the number of people in Poland vaccinated against COVID-19, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths due to COVID-19. Data were filtered from 27 December 2020 to 1 September 2021. Results: The number of new vaccinations smoothed per million correlated most strongly with searches for the word ‘Pfizer’ in Google Trends (Kendall’s tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new deaths correlated most strongly with the search phrase ‘AstraZeneca’ (Kendall’s tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new cases per million correlated most strongly with searches for ‘AstraZeneca’ (Kendall’s tau = 0.49, p < 0.001). The maximum daily number of searches ranged between 110 and 130. A significant interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. Conclusions: A significant increase in interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of gradually extended access to vaccinations, as well as a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. The use of Google Trends with relevant keywords and a comparison with the course of the COVID-19 pandemic facilitates evaluation of the relationship between the frequency and types of searches for COVID-19 vaccines and epidemiological data.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Kłak & Konrad Furmańczyk & Paulina Maria Nowicka & Małgorzata Mańczak & Agnieszka Barańska & Urszula Religioni & Anna Siekierska & Martyna Ambroziak & Magdalena Chłopek, 2022. "The Relationship between Searches for COVID-19 Vaccines and Dynamics of Vaccinated People in Poland: An Infodemiological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13275-:d:942628
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna Kłak & Jolanta Grygielska & Małgorzata Mańczak & Ewelina Ejchman-Pac & Jakub Owoc & Urszula Religioni & Robert Olszewski, 2022. "Online Information of COVID-19: Visibility and Characterization of Highest Positioned Websites by Google between March and April 2020—A Cross-Country Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-26, January.
    2. Awijen, Haithem & Ben Zaied, Younes & Nguyen, Duc Khuong, 2022. "Covid-19 vaccination, fear and anxiety: Evidence from Google search trends," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
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